Video Monitor Cable

From Sega Retro

VideoMonitorCable MD.jpg
Video Monitor Cable
Made for: Sega Mega Drive
Manufacturer: Sega
Type: Video cable
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
MK-1605
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Audio Video Cable)
MK-1634

The Video Monitor Cable is the name of the official cable used for carrying composite video (yellow) and monaural audio (white) from a Sega Mega Drive to a television.

In Japan, Video Monitor Cables were bundled with every Mega Drive console from launch in 1988, however in North America and Europe, Sega originally opted for lesser RF cables, presumably to accommodate differences in television markets (although it is not currently known if this cable appeared in Europe). Video Monitor Cables were instead sold separately for those who had televisions (or monitors) that supported the standard.

When the Mega Drive 2 was released with the ability to output stereo audio to a television, the official Video Monitor Cable was rendered obsolete by the Stereo Audio Video Cable (and then again in Europe when SCART cables were introduced). While all flavours of Mega Drive support stereo audio, the original Mega Drive needs to be physically modified in order for this ability to be unlocked (save for out of the headphone port at the front).

However, for televisions that only had a mono audio input, a Mega Drive 2 variant was released as the Audio Video Cable.

Physical scans

Mega Drive, US (1990)
VideoMonitorCable MD US Box Back 1990.jpgNospine.pngVideoMonitorCable MD US Box Front 1990.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, US (1992)
VideoMonitorCable MD US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngVideoMonitorCable MD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, US
(Audio Video Cable)
AudioVideoCable MD US Box Front.jpg
Cover

References


Sega Mega Drive
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise | Cartridges | TradeMark Security System
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Asia | South Korea | Australasia | Africa
EZ Games | LaserActive | Mega Jet | Mega PC | Mega Play | Mega-Tech System | Nomad | Teradrive | Mega Drive Mini | Mega Drive Mini 2
New Mega Drive | Tianli VCD/DVD Players | "Consoles on a chip" | Licensed clones (Magic 2 | Mega Game II | Power Pegasus | Super Bitman)
Unlicensed clones
Add-ons Game Box | Power Base Converter | Mega-CD | 32X (Mega-CD 32X) | Mega Modem | Demo System DS-16
Cases Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case | System Carry Case
Controllers Control Pad | Six Button Control Pad | 6 Button Arcade Pad | Arcade Power Stick 6B | Konami Justifier | MK-1470
Action Chair | Activator | Arcade Power Stick | Keyboard | MegaFire | Mouse | Mega Stick | Menacer | Remote Arcade System | Ten Key Pad
Accessories 4 Way Play | Cleaning System | Control Pad Extension Cord | Genesis Speakers | HeartBeat Catalyst | Region converter cartridges | Mega Terminal | Miracle Piano Teaching System | Nomad PowerBack | NordicQuest | RF Unit (Mega Drive 2) | SCART Cable (Mega Drive 2) | Stereo Audio Video Cable | Team Player | Video Monitor Cable
Network services Sega Channel | Sega Game Toshokan | Mega Anser | Mega Net | TeleBradesco Residência | XB∀ND
Development tools ERX 308P | ERX 318P | Sprobe | SNASM68K | SNASM2 (Mega Drive) | SNASM2 (32X) | PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) | PSY-Q Development System (32X) | 32X CartDev | Sega Mars Development Aid System | Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased Edge 16 | Floppy Disk Drive | Mega Play 1010 | Sega VR | Teleplay System | Video Jukebox